Situation remains unstable: IAEA confirms blackout at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is dangerous
Photo: IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi (Getty Images)
The situation at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains unstable due to a blackout that has lasted for eight consecutive days. There is a potential risk of nuclear fuel melting, stated IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.
"Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has been without external power for more than a week now, which is by far the longest-lasting such event during more than three and a half years of war. I’m in constant contact with the two sides with the aim to enable the plant’s swift re-connection to the electricity grid," Grossi said.
According to the IAEA, the last power outage outside the facility occurred at 4:56 p.m. on September 23. At that time, the only remaining power line was damaged as a result of military operations. After that, emergency diesel generators automatically started up to provide the energy needed for the facility's safety systems, as well as for cooling the six reactors and spent fuel.
Grossi emphasized that this situation is unstable from a nuclear safety perspective, as a complete failure of backup systems could lead to the risk of nuclear fuel melting.
"While the plant is currently coping thanks to its emergency diesel generators – the last line of defence – and there is no immediate danger as long as they keep working, it is clearly not a sustainable situation in terms of nuclear safety. Neither side would benefit from a nuclear accident," he said.
At the same time, Grossi said that the Zaporizhzhia plant informed the IAEA team that the facility still has fuel reserves sufficient for about 10 days of operation, and regular external deliveries will maintain this level.
"In recent days, the IAEA team members at the site were able to observe the operating EDGs and to confirm that the sprinkler ponds that provide cooling water for the reactor units and spent fuel remain full," the agency stated.
Blackout at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
On September 23, Energoatom reported that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant experienced its tenth blackout since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Russia deliberately does not connect the station to the power supply.
The company noted that the last external power line linking the plant to Ukraine’s energy system stopped working.
As a result, the plant is now running on diesel generators.
This situation could lead to a nuclear accident, as external power is needed to cool the nuclear reactors.
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the plant is currently powered by diesel generators, which are not designed for continuous operation in such conditions. He emphasized that one of the generators has already failed.
